On Friday, the EU’s top court halved Poland’s daily penalties for judicial changes to 500,000 euros, saying Warsaw had mostly executed the measures.
Poland’s populist government has been fighting Brussels over judicial reforms that critics claim weaken court independence. Due to the disagreement, Warsaw has been fined and denied billions in EU money.
In 2021, the EU’s top court declared that Poland’s judge-discipline system violated EU law and fined Warsaw 1 million euros ($1.10 million) each day for failing to disband the disciplinary chamber.
Poland abolished the chamber and replaced it with a new body, but critics argue the politicization of the court continues.
“The Vice-President (of the Court of Justice of the European Union) considered that the measures introduced by Poland… may, to a large extent, ensure the implementation of the interim measures indicated in the decision of July 14, 2021,” the court said.
The court observed the disciplinary chamber had been dismantled and that judges affected by its findings had their legal rights strengthened.
However, Dublin’s UCD Sutherland School of Law dean Laurent Pech, a vocal critic of Poland’s judiciary reforms, said the EU court was “seemingly becoming less serious about respect for the rule of law and ensuring compliance with its own orders/case law… (by) accepting cosmetic measures”.
A Polish government spokesman was unavailable.
EU spokespersons said the decreased daily fine took effect Friday.
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